Android Circuit: Samsung's new Galaxy Smartphones, Android Is The Top OS In The US, And The Home Screen On The Front Line

This article in Forbes...

...focuses on Samsung’s new Galaxy handsets; Android tops the US market share; the Android ‘L’ changes; Google Play Services’ update for Android Wear support; Android Wear apps arrive in the Play Store; the battle for the home screen continues with Aviate; and what happens next in the smartphone world. 

Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the very many things that have happened around Android over the last seven days.

Samsung Announce Five New Galaxy Handsets

As expected, Samsung has expanded the Galaxy S5 portfolio with the announcement of a number of new handsets. They all fit into the South Korean’s existing portfolio, bumping up the separate handset ranges in the same way that the core S5 handset built on the S4.

First up is the Galaxy S5 Mini, which offers a smaller version of the standard Galaxy S5. Forbes contributor Jay McGregor takes a closer look at the handset, and highlights the robust specifications – a 4.5 inch screen at 720×1280 pixels, a quad-core 1.4 GHz CPU, 1.5 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of storage, as well as the IP67 certification, heart rate sensor, and fingerprint scanner. Last year’s S4 Mini had the power but was lacking the battery life, so it will be interesting to test the S5 Mini. We should have a review on Forbes in the near future.

With the low-end handsets, Samsung has updated the Galaxy Ace, Galaxy Core, Galaxy Young, and Galaxy Star, handsets. While the specifications are not going to hold a candle to the paternal S5, these will be the handsets that will generate a high volume of sales thanks to the promotion of ‘Galaxy’ as a brand name and some smart cross-selling in retail stores around the world.   Read More

Samsung launches 4K, 28-inch monitor for under $700

Fox News - This is the year of 4K, aka Ultra HD. The technology was once prohibitively expensive, but prices are dropping fast for these TVs and monitors that have 3840 x 2160-pixel resolution, or four times the resolution of 1080p screens.

Enter the Samsung UD590 computer monitor, a 28-inch screen with sleek design and Ultra HD resolution. Its $699 price is the real attention-getter.

The UD590 can also display 1 billion different colors and has a 1-millisecond response time, making it well suited for gamers, along with sports and action film fans, says Samsung.

And as 4K hardware proliferates, more 4K content sources are emerging. Netflix and Amazon Prime have both committed to filming and streaming their original programming in 4K, as have YouTube and some smaller online services.   Read More

Samsung Galaxy S5 reveals its hidden features

We knew all about the Galaxy S5's heart-rate monitor and fingerprint scanner, but dig a little deeper and there's a lot more going on.

CNET - BARCELONA, Spain -- Spend a little time with the Samsung Galaxy S5 and you'll quickly see that there's more to this flagship smartphone than the heart-rate monitor on the back and the optional fingerprint scanner on the front.

Of course, those are some of the phone's defining characteristics, but beyond the attention-grabbing headlining acts are three interesting and useful little gems.


Toolbox

If you explore the Settings menu or the quick access settings in the notifications pulldown, you'll notice a quiet little option called Toolbox. Toggle it on and a white dot appears, inscribing an ellipsis. Tap this and it will expand to reveal shortcuts to popular tools like the camera, voice recorder, browser, calculator, and the notes app -- but you can swap for other apps.   Read More

Mobile World Congress - Day Two Highlights

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 review: Premium small tablet for premium price

You get what you pay for with this slate. This 8.4-inch tablet brings a comfortable design, smooth performance, and an incredible screen in one package.     Read More

Ford shows off a different kind of mobile device

At Mobile World Congress Ford introduced the 2015 Focus to the world. Since we're at a tech show, we took a good look at the tech inside.    Read More

Dolby to bring Atmos cinema sound to mobile

The audio company has special algorithms that deliver spatial sound similar to its Atmos technology to your basic headphones.    Read More

Samsung Gamepad is a slick Bluetooth controller

Samsung wants to turn your smartphone into a games console, with a chunky Xbox-style controller. We see how it plays in this hands-on video    Read More

Hands-on with the bare-bones ZTE Open II Firefox phone

The Open II features a 2-megapixel camera and Firefox OS, and has its sights on emerging markets.    Read More

Unique smartphones boast encryption, e-ink

Several smartphones unveiled at Mobile World Congress stand out with unusual features, like the untraceable Blackphone, the durable Toughpad, and the dual-screen YotaPhone. And BlackBerry strays from the pack by bringing back the trackpad.    Read More

Mobile World Congress Day One Highlights

Samsung unveils the Galaxy S5

The wait is over. No more rumors, just facts. This is Samsung's much anticipated superphone freshly unveiled at Mobile World Congress.   Read More 

HTC brings style to the mid-range segment with the Desire 816 (hands-on)

The new Desire 816 is the company's flagship for a new mid-tier lineup and sports a design based on the One series of devices.   Read More

Nokia Asha 230 shows off teeny-tiny touchscreen

It's incredibly basic, but the minuscule Asha 230 has an adorable design, and will set you back very little cash.   Read More

The Nvidia Tegra Note 7 adds LTE

Nvidia's updatd Tegra Note 7 keeps its Tegra 4 processor and adds a i500 modem, coming soon for $299.    Read More

First Ubuntu phones revealed (pictures)

Take an exclusive first look at the first Ubuntu phones, the Meizu MX3 and BQ Aquaris, in our hands-on photos.    Read More

Mobile World Congress in Video: Sony updates its Xperia lineup

We've told you about the changes Sony's introducing to its Xperia smartphones and tablets. Now see the new Xperia Z2 phone for yourself in this video report.    Read More

More

CES 2014 Roundup (So Far)

 

CES 2014 reveals head-turning smart home appliances

Sharp boasts 'game changer' high-res Aquos Quattron Plus TV

The Japanese TV maker is known for going big at the Consumer Electronics Show, and this year is all about the subpixels.

Watch your step -- with a Bluetooth-connected insole

Even as Nike moves to wrist-worn electronics, a company called 3L Labs at CES announces FootLogger, which builds sensors into a person's shoe. Expect them in the second half of 2014.

(VIDEO) Track testing the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette and its new Performance Data Recorder

Samsung debuts bendable TV

Not only did Samsung announce new and incredibly weird TVs (you can bend them) but it's moving into the premium tablet sphere with a new line.

 MakerBot flaunts new 3D printers at CES 2014 (pictures)

More

NSA reportedly planted spyware on electronics equipment - Dell, Samsung & More

Based on internal NSA documents, Der Spiegel reveals that the spy agency planted backdoors to access computers, hard drives, routers, and other devices from companies such as Cisco, Dell, Western Digital, Seagate, Maxtor and Samsung.

CNET - A new report from Der Spiegel, based on internal National Security Agency documents, reveals more details about how the spy agency gains access to computers and other electronic devices to plant backdoors and other spyware.

The Office of Tailored Access Operations, or TAO, is described as a "squad of digital plumbers" that deals with hard targets -- systems that are not easy to infiltrate. TAO has reportedly been responsible for accessing the protected networks of heads of state worldwide, works with the CIA and FBI to undertake "sensitive missions," and has penetrated the security of undersea fiber-optic cables. TAO also intercepts deliveries of electronic equipment to plant spyware to gain remote access to the systems once they are delivered and installed.

Der Spiegel: Inside TAO -Documents Reveal Top NSA Hacking Unit

Der Spiegel: Shopping for Spy Gear - Catalog Advertises NSA Toolbox

According to the report, the NSA has planted backdoors to access computers, hard drives, routers, and other devices from companies such as Cisco, Dell, Western Digital, Seagate, Maxtor, Samsung, and Huawei. The report describes a 50-page product catalog of tools and techniques that an NSA division called ANT, which stands for Advanced or Access Network Technology, uses to gain access to devices.

This follows a report that the security firm RSA intentionally allowed the NSA to create a backdoor into its encryption tokens.   Read More

Samsung to launch a wraparound screen next year: Rumors abound that new Galaxy model could have a THREE-sided screen

• Rumours that display is likely to feature on Samsung’s Galaxy S or Note luxury handsets, but could be the first of a new line of curvier handsets
• The handset will use an enhanced version of the company’s Youm technology, which features in the new Galaxy Round handset
• There is currently no release date for the device, although it is likely to be launched in the second half of 2014

Mail Online - The latest version of Samsung’s Galaxy smartphone could have a three-sided display, rumours suggest.

The new smartphone, which is tipped to launch next year, might sport a wrap-around display so that content on the curved screen can be read from extreme angles.

The display is likely to feature on Samsung’s Galaxy S or Note luxury handsets, but it could even be the first of a new line of curvier handsets, according to the rumours.

Sources close to the company told Bloomberg the phone will use an enhanced version of the company’s Youm technology.

Youm is used in Samsung’s Galaxy Round handset, which was released last month.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2507779/Samsung-launch-wraparound-screen-year-Rumours-abound-new-Galaxy-model-THREE-sided-screen.html#ixzz2ks9Y2bv5

Hands on with the massive Samsung UN-85S9 85-inch 4K TV

CNET - The UN-85S9 is massive, and massively expensive. At a special event in LA, we got to spend some time with it, watching 4K, Blu-ray, some test patterns ... even DVD

This thing is huge. There's just something about a TV this size that dominates a room. Even a big room. It plays tricks on the eyes, in a way, as your brain isn't accustomed to seeing a TV of such girth.

The UN-85S9 isn't just massive in size (85 inches, 189 pounds), but massive in price ($40,000) and resolution (Ultra HD "4K," of course).

I got to spend some time with it, and here's what I found out.

As you might have noticed, from the lack of "review" in the title, this isn't a full review. We only had limited time with the TV, and it wasn't at the CNET labs. Also, my name is not David or Ty. I did have access to a variety of equipment and test gear, though, so consider this a mostly-there-but-not-quite-full review.

Big

My "TV" at home is a projector on a 102-inch screen, and even I think this is a big TV. There's something about the presence of a device-of-unusual-size that is impressive. The easel design for the stand, which I thought looked odd at best, weird at worst, at CES, actually sort of works. It makes the TV look even bigger, and makes it look different from your average television. That makes sense for something this price.

Like Samsung's OLED and a few of its other new TVs, the UN-85S9 comes with the OneConnect box, an external input box where you connect all your sources, and then a single cable goes to the TV. Honestly, I like the idea. I think for most people it would make setup easier. More importantly, with HDMI 2.0 immanent, it's a lot easier to replace a OneConnect box than cracking open a TV and replacing the input board (or more).   More

Samsung to unveil Galaxy Round flexible display phone

Possibly debuting this week, the phone could steal some thunder from LG's allegedly upcoming G Flex smartphone.

CNET -Samsung is reportedly set to announce a curved display smartphone known as the Galaxy Round.

The new phone could be unveiled later this week, Korean news site Asiae reported Sunday. A Google translation of the story mentions October 10, but it's unclear whether that's the date forecast for the expected unveiling.

The phone would use a plastic display rather than one made of glass. The Asiae report follows a comment made by a Samsung executive in September confirming such a phone.   More

Galaxy Note III and Galaxy Gear smartwatch a lock for Sept. 4, Samsung exec says

PCWorld - On September 4, Samsung will take the stage two days ahead of the IFA Berlin trade show to introduce the world to the Galaxy Note III and a new smartwatch called Galaxy Gear.

Samsung officially announced the event earlier in August, but only hinted at what the company had in store for the event.

On Tuesday, Lee Young-hee, Samsung’s vice president of mobile, confirmed to Seoul daily The Korea Times that the company would show off its new phablet and smartwatch next Wednesday, but the Samsung exec declined to provide details about the two new products.

Lee Young-hee first tipped off the world that the Galaxy Gear was coming in March in an interview with Bloomberg.

 

Johan Loekito

Unofficial Samsung smartwatch concept design by Johan Loekito

 

Read More

OLED Finally Arrives, But Is The Dream TV Really Worth It?

Forbes - Samsung and LG wowed visitors to January’s Consumer Electronics Show with prototypes of a new kind of flat-panel television using OLED technology. OLEDs, which also power the screens in Samsung’s Galaxy S4 phones, promise unprecedented contrast and thinness in TVs — and the demos didn’t disappoint. The lack of shipping products, however, did. The TVs were first shown last year and both Korean electronic giants promised to ship within months. Technically, OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode, but for the past decade, the “D” might as well have stood for delay. At last, though, 18 months from those demos, LG and Samsung are bringing products to the U.S. They’re strange and extraordinarily expensive, but they’re real.

Once upon a time, it seemed like OLED might be the preeminent flat-panel technology. As early as 2001, Sony SNE -2.4% and Universal Display PANL NaN% were putting out press releases touting joint development plans for large-screen OLED televisions. It would be a couple of years before mass production of large-size LCD TVs became possible and the hype was always that OLED was that much better and imminent. But “imminent” — like those announcements from last year’s CES — never arrived because OLED never had the manufacturing breakthrough that LCD did. And it still hasn’t, which is why the 55-inch models LG and Samsung sets will be available for a breathtaking $15,000 — literally 6 times as expensive as a top-of-the-line LCD of the same size.   Read More

Waterproof Samsung Galaxy S4 Active makes some waves

CNET - Samsung's Galaxy S4 line gets another family member in the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, a hardened, ruggedized spin off of the company's flagship model.

Waterproof to a meter below the surface and for up to 30 minutes, the Active carries on computing with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, Samsung's TouchWiz interface, and a 1.9GHz quad-core processor, the same as its more delicate Galaxy S4 sibling.   More

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 gets new 8- and 10.1-inch models

CNET - The added models should give Samsung entry points into a wider range of the tablet market. They'll be available early this month.

Samsung has released the details for an 8-inch and a 10.1-inch tablet joining the popular Galaxy Tab series, along with the 7-inch model currently available.

In an announcement Monday, the South Korean firm unveiled the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 models in the new sizes.

The 8-inch Galaxy Tab 3 is possibly a response to the popular iPad Mini and Google Nexus 7. The tablet is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and a 1280x800-pixel HD screen, and runs on Android 4.2, otherwise known as Jelly Bean. The 8-inch model also sports two cameras, the front shooting at 1.3 megapixels and the rear reaching 5 megapixels.   More

Samsung takes inspiration from Fort Knox for mobile security

 
PCWorld - BARCELONA—Samsung on Monday announced an improved version of its SAFE management and security system for popular Samsung-branded Android smartphones and tablets.
Samsung dubbed the updated tool set KNOX, after the famous Fort Knox in Kentucky, where much of the U.S. gold reserves are stored.

The KNOX technology, to be demonstrated at Mobile World Congress here this week, means that Samsung smartphone and tablet users will soon be able to take advantage of a dual persona or containerization approach, where corporate and personal data are kept in separate spaces on the Android OS.

Samsung said its new software is not a hypervisor, but runs in the BIOS (basic input output system) firmware of the Android OS with file system encryption, to protect against data leaks, viruses and malware.

More

Hands-on with Samsung's $249 Chromebook

Google hopes to tap into new markets with the $249 Samsung 

Chromebook, a laptop running Google's browser-based 

Chrome OS and built atop a Samsung A15-class ARM processor.

(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)

 

 

CNET - After using the new Samsung Chromebook for the better part of a workday, I have to say I'm impressed -- at least, considering the constraints of its $249 price tag.

Google announced the Samsung Chromebook today along with new ambitions to spread its browser-based, cloud-focused Chrome OS laptop much more widely. Google envisions it as being good as an extra machine that lies around the house or as a laptop for students.

I find it a reasonable device for those categories, especially for people like myself who already have their heads in the Google cloud with Google Docs, Google Drive, and Gmail. It's got workable if not standout hardware, its battery life is good, it switches on quickly, and the $249 price tag means it's not as much of a commitment as the $550 Samsung Series 5 550 that arrived in May.

However, given its sluggish performance sometimes, I can't say I was blown away by the Samsung Chromebook. It's fine for many tasks, but power users accustomed to having more than a couple dozen browser tabs open should steer clear.

More

IFA Berlin Highlights - Samsung, Dell, HP & Toshiba

Samsung @ IFA: Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Camera and more

 

Dell teases new XPS Duo 12 convertible tablet

Hands-on with the HP Envy x2's tablet and keyboard

Sony Alpha NEX-5R: Major changes for midrange cameras








Toshiba outs three new Satellite Ultrabooks 






 

Review: Samsung Galaxy S III

 

Samsung Galaxy S III Review: Your Next Android Phone

PCWorld Rating

4.5

4.5 / 5 - PCWorld, Jun 19, 2012

---

Pros

• Beautiful, large display
• Eye-catching design
• Solid camera
• Speedy performance

Cons

• Gestures can be frustrating to use
• S Voice doesn't always work

Bottom Line

Despite some gimmicky features, the Galaxy S III is a well-designed, high-performance smartphone.

Read the Full Review

 

Samsung Galaxy S III Teardown Reveals Some Interesting Secrets

 
[Credit: iFixit] 


PCWorld - We're immensely jealous of our friends over at iFixit and Chipworks who got their hands on the hotly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S III. Doing what they do best--tearing things apart to show you how to fix them yourself--the two teams give us a look inside Samsung's monstrous new phone. While I'm not going to cover every single thing that iFixit and Chipworks found inside of the phone--you can see that for yourself on their website--here are some of the highlights.

The Galaxy S III has a 2100mAh battery which, while not as big as the 3300mAh battery in the Droid RAZR Maxx, is still bigger than the 1750mAH battery that comes with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The battery also contains the phone's NFC chip, and humorously asks that users consult the phone's manual before use.           More

Samsung Chromebox Series 3 review

 CNET -

The good: The Samsung Chromebox offers an attractive, low-risk entry point to the experimental world of Google's Chrome OS.

The bad: Absent features and occasional software and hardware incompatibilities mar a supposedly simple user experience.

The bottom line: The attractive, fairly priced Samsung Chromebox desktop turns Google's Web-based Chrome OS into a not entirely unreasonable option for certain low-cost PC shoppers.

Full Review